Advantages

Disadvantages

If you like rap, then you will love this

Childish Gambino also known by his real name Donald Glover, releases his debut album here on a major record label and you do not get much better than this. Gambino is a multitalented artist. Not only does he rap, but he is also a stand-up comedian and an actor having hard a starring role in the hit show Community. He didn't just get the major deal by luck, but has released many mix tapes and independent albums before this and has finally taken his chance here getting a crack at the big time. In the US this album reached no 2 on the top Hip-hop and R&B charts and has sold 168,000 copies in the US so far. Much like my other favourite artist Ryan Leslie, Gambino as well as rapping, also produced and writes his own tracks. As per usual I will review my favourite tracks in the album.

Bonfire~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the track that introduced me to Gambino and I was hooked from the moment he starting spitting his lines. He can rhyme and come up with clever puns like any other rapper can. I haven't seen many rappers that can swiftly move from one topic to another, and of course Nas is one of the masters at this, but Gambino isn't far off. 'I make the beat retarded so I'm calling it a slow Jam'. There are many more awesome lines like this one and it is by far his standout quality. It is also an awesome beat, and has a cool chanting voice in the background, but there is no hook here and it is all about Gambino showing off his words.

Heartbeat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another one of the tracks that was released from the album and it starts with him singing with electronic enhancements. This track definitely has a hook unlike Bonfire, and it is pretty cool, just singing about how he can't speak when the lady isn't around. It is more of a typical song about girls. But not disrespecting them like you might expect from Lil Wayne. His lyrics are also great here, but it is more aimed around the beat rather than to please the listens with the rhyming words so it is easy to see why this was released as a single.

Kids Keep Up~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Complete change of style here from Gambino and a very sweet track. I didn't even know Gambino could sing until the hook here and he isn't half bad at all. Look he is no Usher but then don't forget this is a rapper singing and fair dues on him trying. He sings about how other people give the girl he likes lots of things, but they are just trying to keep up with him. The rapping flows well with the beat which is effective and very light and has an awesome violin. One of the lines I think is awesome is 'Finding you is like finding Asians I hate'. Basically saying he doesn't hate any Asians so can't find any and hence can't find his perfect girl.

Sunrise~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just love this track. It is the type of track I can just blast out after a long day at work. There is a heavy beat and Gambino goes at this rapping like it is the last rap of his life. The beat sounds like someone clapping, so I can imagine at a tour everyone clapping along. Of course lyrically he is at the top of his game here like the rest of his album. The hook is a mixture of him singing and rapping and is very catchy although is one of the rare tracks to contain some swear words.

Overall this is an awesome album, not five stars as I don't like to just dish out five stars out to all albums I like, unlike a lot of other people here. There are a few tracks that I am not as fond of, but it is a solid album and it has been a while since this album has been released. I hope to hear more from Gambino as I am a big fan of his rapping style and it is comparable with the likes of Nas and Lupe Fiasco. On 04/11/2012 he stated that he has been working on a new album and that it will bigger and better than anything he has ever done.